Early this year, after Stacy asked for administrators to install the drop boxes, Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn replied that there was no need because the district already conducts anonymous online surveys of teachers, staff and students annually.

At a recent board meeting, Stacy said many employees have told her they believe the district's online survey is not truly anonymous because the responses could be linked to their email or to their school computer.

The district maintains there is no way to identify an employee, staff member or student who fills out online surveys.

In her email to the employees, Stacy wrote that steering away from electronic surveys is the way to find out what is really happening throughout the school system.

"It is time for those of you in the trenches to take over our public schools here in Marion County," she wrote. "Far too long you have been the scapegoats of a failed education system that has flat lined for many years even though huge amounts of money have been thrown at it.

"I want our district to be the best in the state but the way we treat our (employees) will make that a realistic goal or an unrealistic goal."

Stacy asked the employees to mail their concerns to her home address: 2830 SE 31st St., Ocala, FL 33471.

Stacy asked employees not to include any identifying information, such as a return address. She said the employee need not list his or her school or department.

She plans to gather the results and then meet with district administrators.

"Teachers tell me they have been led to believe that if they speak up or disagree they are ‘uncivil,' while that is far from the truth," Stacy noted in the email. "Our Founding Fathers called that ‘spirited debate' and I know I cannot even begin to be a real leader until I get truths from the teachers."

Those are just a few of the 2,200 words Stacy wrote in the email. She also sent a brief follow-up email. Those communications prompted School Board Chairman Bobby James to respond with an email of his own to all employees.

"It has been brought to my attention that you have received two (2) unusual emails from a School Board member," he wrote. "The School Board member is requesting information on a variety of topics. Please understand that this request has not been approved by the Marion County School Board. I know that your time is valuable and your response to this request is completely voluntary."

Stacy said she believes James was out of line for sending his email. She said her email is clear that the request for feedback came from just her, not the board.

After Stacy's email was sent, some employees responded immediately, but accidentally hit "reply all," thus sending their reply to all of the 5,700 or so employees.

That prompted Rick Lankford, the deputy superintendent of school over curriculum, to issue a caution — also by email — to all employees.

"Please remember that when you receive a mass email that you would like to respond to, respond using the REPLY button, not the REPLY ALL button," Lankford wrote. "This will help ensure that the system continues to work at a high efficiency. Your help with this is appreciated."

Marion Education Association President Chris Altobello, head of the teachers' union, responded to Stacy's email with an email of his own to his members.

Altobello took exception to Stacy stating the union can't dictate board policy, only board members can. "While she is correct, she fails to mention that your union negotiates changes to your contract — a document that supersedes board policy," he wrote.

Altobello also said Stacy's mass email was poorly timed: It was sent on Monday, the first day of the all-important FCAT, which is being administered all of this week and much of next week.

"Teachers did not need this type of distraction on such an important week as this," Altobello said.

Stacy said she waited to send her email until after spring break and after all of the FCAT teaching had been done. She noted that teachers only had to walk around and watch the children take the test.

"That is why I waited until Monday," Stacy said. "This was not a distraction."

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter@JoeOcalaNews.

<p>School Board member Nancy Stacy sent a 2,200-word email to most of the School District's 5,700 employees this week, requesting they anonymously mail their workplace concerns to her home address.</p><p>Stacy took this unusual step after the School District declined her request to place complaint boxes at all schools.</p><p>"It's going well so far," Stacy said. "I am getting phone calls (from employees) thanking me for this."</p><p>Early this year, after Stacy asked for administrators to install the drop boxes, Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn replied that there was no need because the district already conducts anonymous online surveys of teachers, staff and students annually.</p><p>At a recent board meeting, Stacy said many employees have told her they believe the district's online survey is not truly anonymous because the responses could be linked to their email or to their school computer.</p><p>The district maintains there is no way to identify an employee, staff member or student who fills out online surveys.</p><p>In her email to the employees, Stacy wrote that steering away from electronic surveys is the way to find out what is really happening throughout the school system.</p><p>"It is time for those of you in the trenches to take over our public schools here in Marion County," she wrote. "Far too long you have been the scapegoats of a failed education system that has flat lined for many years even though huge amounts of money have been thrown at it.</p><p>"I want our district to be the best in the state but the way we treat our (employees) will make that a realistic goal or an unrealistic goal."</p><p>Stacy asked the employees to mail their concerns to her home address: 2830 SE 31st St., Ocala, FL 33471.</p><p>Stacy asked employees not to include any identifying information, such as a return address. She said the employee need not list his or her school or department.</p><p>She plans to gather the results and then meet with district administrators.</p><p>"Teachers tell me they have been led to believe that if they speak up or disagree they are 'uncivil,' while that is far from the truth," Stacy noted in the email. "Our Founding Fathers called that 'spirited debate' and I know I cannot even begin to be a real leader until I get truths from the teachers."</p><p>Those are just a few of the 2,200 words Stacy wrote in the email. She also sent a brief follow-up email. Those communications prompted School Board Chairman Bobby James to respond with an email of his own to all employees.</p><p>"It has been brought to my attention that you have received two (2) unusual emails from a School Board member," he wrote. "The School Board member is requesting information on a variety of topics. Please understand that this request has not been approved by the Marion County School Board. I know that your time is valuable and your response to this request is completely voluntary."</p><p>Stacy said she believes James was out of line for sending his email. She said her email is clear that the request for feedback came from just her, not the board.</p><p>After Stacy's email was sent, some employees responded immediately, but accidentally hit "reply all," thus sending their reply to all of the 5,700 or so employees.</p><p>That prompted Rick Lankford, the deputy superintendent of school over curriculum, to issue a caution — also by email — to all employees.</p><p>"Please remember that when you receive a mass email that you would like to respond to, respond using the REPLY button, not the REPLY ALL button," Lankford wrote. "This will help ensure that the system continues to work at a high efficiency. Your help with this is appreciated."</p><p>Marion Education Association President Chris Altobello, head of the teachers' union, responded to Stacy's email with an email of his own to his members.</p><p>Altobello took exception to Stacy stating the union can't dictate board policy, only board members can. "While she is correct, she fails to mention that your union negotiates changes to your contract — a document that supersedes board policy," he wrote.</p><p>Altobello also said Stacy's mass email was poorly timed: It was sent on Monday, the first day of the all-important FCAT, which is being administered all of this week and much of next week.</p><p>"Teachers did not need this type of distraction on such an important week as this," Altobello said.</p><p>Stacy said she waited to send her email until after spring break and after all of the FCAT teaching had been done. She noted that teachers only had to walk around and watch the children take the test.</p><p>"That is why I waited until Monday," Stacy said. "This was not a distraction."</p><p><i>Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter@JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>